With the latest Minecraft update, released today, Windows 10 players can now strap on a headset and craft, explore and survive in three whole dimensions (four if you count time!) using the power of Windows Mixed Reality.

We’ve already dabbled in VR with our support for the Oculus Rift and Gear VR. Now, Windows Mixed Reality brings you even more options to 3D-ify your crafty fun, and requires next to no set-up. Just plug the headset into the USB slot and you’re good to go.

What’s more, there are a lot of headsets to choose from! A bunch of different manufacturers – including Samsung, Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo – have created headsets for Windows Mixed Reality, so you can choose the right one for you, at the right price.

Minecraft’s just part of a growing library of games that support Windows Mixed Reality – read out more about them on the Windows Mixed Reality site!

Three years ago, Minecraft became a part of the Microsoft family and my team began our work to extend Minecraft’s potential in classrooms around the world. Flash forward to today – one year after the release of Minecraft: Education Edition – and I’m thrilled to share that we’re continuing to see tremendous momentum with more than 2 million licensed users in 115 countries around the world and more than 250 educator-created lesson plans in our community.

We’ve seen firsthand how Minecraft’s open sandbox environment ignites students’ innate creativity and makes learning fun and collaborative. Educators are teaching a wide variety of subjects with Minecraft: Education Edition, and we’ve seen particularly exciting results when Minecraft is used to teach Computer Science. Though many don’t realize it, coding is in fact one of the most creative activities a student can do, building something with no limitations but his or her own creativity. And research continues to show that creativity, collaboration and coding are all critical skills for success in the modern workplace.

As part of Microsoft’s continued commitment to empower students with these skills, we’ve partnered with Code.org for the past two years to offer educators and students a free Hour of Code tutorial using Minecraft. The results are far beyond anything we could have imagined.

To date, nearly 70 million Minecraft Hour of Code sessions have introduced the basics of coding to people around the world, joining the global movement. Today, I’m excited to announce that we have built a new Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial called Minecraft: Hero’s Journey.

Available at Code.org/Minecraft today, Hero’s Journey introduces a fun character called the Agent and 12 new challenges that teach core coding concepts like loops, debugging, and functions. It’s free and playable across iOS, Android and Windows platforms. Upon completing the tutorial, students can import their code into Minecraft: Education Edition for the first time ever, bringing their work to life in the game, or share their work via email, text message or social media. Learn more about the tutorial at education.minecraft.net/hour-of-code.

Above: Loops enable players to repeat a set of instructions until a certain condition has been reached.

I hope you’ll join us in building a global appreciation for Computer Science by visiting Code.org today to try the tutorial and plan your very own Hour of Code! And please share your experience on Facebook or Twitter using: #Minecraft#Hourofcode to spread the excitement around the globe during Computer Science Education Week.

Each day I come into the office, I am inspired by the stories and videos we receive from our Minecraft: Education Edition community and innovative educators like Melissa Wrenchey, Doug Bergman and Jeff Gearhart who are using computer science to inspire the next generation of creators, innovators and leaders.

Thank you to everyone who made this first year such a success. Our continued growth is only possible with feedback and ideas from you – the passionate educators around the world who are changing education as we know it. Keep it coming!

Students try out an early preview of the new Minecraft Tutorial at the Skyway Boys & Girls Club, in Skyway, Washington, on Oct. 16, 2017.

In a few weeks, people around the world will celebrate Computer Science Education Week. Millions of kids and others will participate in an Hour of Code, a global call to action to spend an hour learning the basics of coding.

Today, it’s my privilege to announce that Microsoft has released a new Minecraft tutorial for Hour of Code, called Hero’s Journey, that will be used in classrooms, at after-school programs, community centers and homes everywhere. The tutorial uses game elements loved by so many young people, and introduces a fun character called the Agent, to present computer science concepts in a fun and creative way. Learn more in a post today by Deirdre Quarnstrom, Minecraft Education general manager, and start planning your Hour of Code.

The Agent from Microsoft and Code.org’s new Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial.

If you’re on the fence about whether you should join this global movement, consider a 2015 study by Gallup that shows how far we still have to go when it comes to helping everyone, including parents and teachers, understand the definition of “computer science.” The study found that “while most students, parents, teachers and school principals surveyed correctly identified ‘creating new software’ and ‘programming and coding’ as computer science activities, many also incorrectly identified ‘creating documents or presentations’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘searching the Internet’ as part of computer science.”

This gap of understanding about what computer science and coding enables threatens our ability to dream big. We need to break down those barriers to help more students appreciate the importance, versatility and creativity that define coding.

Learning to think critically through coding is the single most important step students can take to prepare themselves to fully participate in, and benefit from, the digital economy. Few points drive this fact home better than one from a report by the World Economic Forum, which predicts that 65 percent of children who enter primary school today will work in completely new jobs that don’t currently exist. Among the study’s recommendations: the need for students to have technical skills to better adapt to our changing workplace.

“Learning to think critically through coding is the single most important step students can take to prepare themselves to fully participate in, and benefit from, our increasingly digital economy,” writes Mary Snapp, vice president, Microsoft Philanthropies.

This brings home an important reality: technology is transforming the economy at the speed of light, putting new demands on our workforce, and on the young people who will soon join that workforce. That’s why, for years, we’ve been engaged with schools, with nonprofits and with others to arm young people with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy. It’s why we are working across the United States, and around the world, to help young people and adults become creators of technology, advance their careers and grow their local economies.

Jean Yang, a computer scientist and blogger, writes that “computer science is the study of what machines can do for us.” It’s a great definition. And learning to code, which unlocks those things that computers – and technology as a whole – can do for us, is something that all of us can, and should, learn.

Take that first step today. Here are a few ways you can do it:

Try our new Minecraft Tutorial, and have a friend or family member join you. Share the code you have written on social media.

Access a robust set Hour of Code of learning opportunities compiled by Microsoft Philanthropies.

You can also visit your local Microsoft Store for a hands-on experience. Starting today, all Microsoft Store locations will host a free Computer Science for Everyone workshop series for educators and parents at all coding levels who want to learn new coding skills, understand why computer science is critical for students and how to lead their own Hour of Code.

Students learn coding skills at a free Hour of Code workshop at the Microsoft Store at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles on July 20, 2017. Sign up today for Hour of Code workshops, including the new Minecraft tutorial, by visiting your local Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Stores will also host free Hour of Code workshops during Computer Science Education Week, featuring the new Minecraft tutorial for those who want to join in the global movement with family or friends.

Let’s work together to ensure that every young person has their eyes opened to the endless possibilities before them, unlocked by taking that first step, through an entertaining and enlightening Hour of Code.

MINECON Earth, a livestreamed, interactive showcase of all things Minecraft, is on the horizon, and to celebrate, we’re inviting the Minecraft community to join us and watch this one-of-a-kind event at Microsoft Store viewing parties across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Also, for those of you in Atlanta, we’ll be hosting a pair of Build Battle competitions in early November, with winners taking home tickets to MINECON Earth itself!

MINECON Earth Viewing Parties – Coming to a Microsoft Store Near You

Viewing parties will take place across Microsoft Store locations on Saturday, November 18 at 9:00 a.m. PST. Visit our MINECON viewing party page to get more information and find the location closest to you. Attendees will be admitted 30 minutes prior to the broadcast start time, so come early to ensure you get a seat!

In addition to taking in the show itself, attendees can participate in costume contests, giveaways and competitive and collaborative gameplay with other members of the Minecraft community. Watching the MINECON Earth festivities with local Minecraft players is sure to be a blast, and we hope you’ll join us!

Microsoft Store locations will also host some Minecraft content creators, YouTubers and streamers you may be familiar with! They’ll be taking a break from creating videos and streams to experience the MINECON Earth stream as spectators, along with the rest of the Minecraft community. They’ll be hanging out with attendees at the following locations:

If you’re in the Atlanta area, you can join us in the leadup to MINECON for our Minecraft Build Battle competitions, where the winning team will walk away with tickets to the MINECON Earth show on November 18! Players will be tasked with projects revolving around a series of fun Minecraft themes, so imagination and quick thinking are a must. Like the MINECON Earth viewing parties, these events are great for meeting up with other local players (and putting your building skills to the test).

Players will have to successfully navigate three different Build Battle challenges, with the team that wins each challenge receiving points. At the end of the three challenges, each member of the team with the most total points will win two tickets to MINECON Earth apiece! Even if you aren’t competing, you still have a chance to win tickets, so come cheer on your favorite team and get entered to win a pair of tickets to the MINECON Earth show!

The Build Battles will take place on Friday, November 3 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST at the Microsoft Store at Lenox Square and Saturday, November 4 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST at the Microsoft Store at Perimeter Mall. Players can begin registering for the Build Battle outside each Microsoft Store location one hour prior to the start of the events.

We can’t wait to see the Minecraft community’s passion, talent and creativity at Build Battle and the MINECON Earth viewing parties. See you there!

The PC was built by me for my son to play bloody Minecraft! He’s been using it for approx. 9 months.He’s decided he’s done with PC gaming so wants to sell and put the money towards a motorbike.All items well looked after and maintained by myself. Its been well put together and really tidy internally. Great for games very upgradeable or you could use it as a media PC etc.

Small, fast , plays games like Rainbow six siege just fine. Still have all the component boxes.Add the components together, even with todays prices would cost approx. £550.

Price £300 + postage

LG 25″ 21:9 25UM58-P Ultra wide IPS Gaming MonitorGood condition, great for games. have a spare motherboard for the monitor as well (managed to pick up one with a damaged screen and stripped the board out of it), still sells for £150+

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Many adults today have engaged in learning through games – from designing history-themed board games to choose-your-own-adventure explorations. Educator practice and research over the past two decades documents the effectiveness of this approach. In the Level Up Learning study from Joan Ganz Cooney Center, nearly three quarters (71%) of teachers who use digital games reported that games have been effective in improving their students’ learning outcomes. Due to its open and immersive design, open world games like Minecraft can be utilized as a vehicle for storytelling, narration, and motivation in language arts and across the curriculum.

Educators and students in 115 countries have begun their journey with Minecraft: Education Edition. They tell us that using Minecraft to complement their existing curriculum has helped them improve student engagement, collaboration, and creative exploration. We have also seen App Smashing in education as ground-breaking educators find multiple products useful to integrate technology into existing instruction. So we asked ourselves, what would happen if we were to use Minecraft as an example of Game Smashing?

You’re about to begin a great adventure, traveling the Oregon Trail across the rugged landscape of North America.

It’s time to bring one of the most iconic games to life and reimagine it as a Minecraft world. Partnering with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Minecraft Education is proud to deliver The Oregon Trail Experience to educators and students around the world. Exclusively in Minecraft: Education Edition, classrooms can play through The Oregon Trail in Minecraft, from Independence, Missouri to the Oregon Coast.

We are delighted to partner with Minecraft Education, giving students a new way to experience one of the most popular educational games of all time, The Oregon Trail. Through the unique magic of Minecraft, students will be drawn to discover the wonders and challenges that pioneers encountered on this famous journey. -Caroline Fraser, SVP, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Over 15 learning experiences along the way enrich learning with activities in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts, and more and reach students regardless of grade level. Students can also add their own paths to the game and create their own 19th century communities along the journey.

The versality of Minecraft in the classroom continues to be demonstrated across the curriculum as well. This past Spring, we partnered with the Roald Dahl Estate on Imaginormous, a writing competition for elementary and middle school students. The winner’s story, Fluffletopolis, was turned into a Minecraft build by our friends at ShapeScape. We look forward to educators and students using this world, and the lessons we created alongside the Roald Dahl Team, to empower our next generation of storytellers and creators.

If you’re interested in getting started with an introductory level experience, Minecraft Education is partnering with Smithsonian for their Museum Day LIVE event on Saturday, September 23rd. By collaborating, we can bring together the amazing resources Smithsonian has with immersive Minecraft extensions to the existing lesson plans. Minecraft Global Mentor Ben Kelly already experienced these extensions with his students.

In an era where personalized learning is the goal, the ‘Museum of Me’ Project can be used to help educators find common interests with their students and identify career and curriculum areas to benefit everyone’s learning path. -Ben Kelly, Global Minecraft Mentor

We hope that educators around the world can engage students in conversations and activities ranging from how materials used for buildings is transformed over time, the size of the cosmos, and help their own students build a ‘Museum of Me’. Be sure to download your free ticket from the Smithsonian site, and join in an incredible experience later this month.

In support of creating great learning experiences like The Oregon Trail, Fluffletopolis and Museum of Me, we continue to add features to Minecraft: Education Edition. Next month we will introduce three new features for students and educators alike. As always, we are incorporating other new features from other Minecraft versions like stained glass, crafting recipe book, ravines, parrots, and the most important Minecraft block, coarse dirt (if this doesn’t sound exciting to you, ask your students).

Using Minecraft Structure Blocks, students will be able to export Minecraft creations in 3d and view them in Remix 3D along with manipulating them in Paint 3D. Educators can review geometric creations, create cut-away Minecraft models of plant and animal cells, and design cathedrals as part of a unit on the Middle Ages.

With the new Minecraft: Education Edition Book & Quill, students can create their own combinations of images and writing, and export these for assessment and presentations.

Students can now program Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) in the game using basic logic to create custom artificial intelligence as part of their worlds.

Please share your experiences with your community and with us at @playcraftlearn and through our educator community site on education.minecraft.net.

Minecraft: Education Edition is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination. Over the last year, the Education Blog has shared how Minecraft can help your students learn to code with Code Builder, or how it might help them shed their shells and explore a virtual horizon together.

We want you to feel that creativity and spirit of discovery for yourself soon, so we’ve put together a 3-minute step-by-step video tutorial for introducing Minecraft: Education Edition into your classroom today. You’ll also catch some tips on how you can take advantage of our Minecraft: Education Edition website, which features tutorials, lesson plans and guidance from other educators.

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One more thing: Beyond our offer of a free trial, you can check out our Minecraft: Education Edition sign-up page to learn how you can receive a one-year, single-user subscription for Minecraft: Education Edition for each new Windows 10 device purchased for your K-12 school.

The Better Together Update we announced at E3 2017 is designed to unify the console, mobile and Windows 10 PC versions of the game under one single Minecraft edition, which will include infinite worlds, the community Marketplace and community servers (which are coming to the beta later on!). It’ll introduce cross-platform support, allowing console, Windows 10 PC and mobile Minecrafters to play together for the first time! The Better Together Update also brings the biggest collection of new features ever to players on Bedrock Engine platforms (Windows 10, mobile), including the very long awaited and much in demand stained glass, fireworks, PARROTS THAT DANCE, customizable banners, armor stands, jukebox and music discs, recipe book and ravines. And for Windows 10 PC versions, integration with Paint 3D and Remix3D.com, making it easy to export and share 3D creations and inspire others.

Who can participate? Players on Windows 10 PC, Android and soon Xbox One are welcome to jump into cross-platform play with other beta testers across all three devices.

Xbox One and Windows 10 PC beta testers will need to have downloaded the Xbox Insider app, and players on Xbox One will need to own a digital version of Minecraft. Beta testers on Android will need to have devices that support Google Play and own a copy of the game purchased through the Google Play Store.

We’re happy to announce that in August that Xbox is coming to Cologne, Germany for gamescom 2017. This will be the first time Xbox One X will be on the ground in Europe, with a huge line up of 27 playable games from developers around the world, including Forza Motorsport 7, Age of Empires Definitive Edition and Sea of Thieves. Head over to Xbox Wire for a rundown of what’s happening throughout the week. See you there!

Candy Crush is more than just one of the world’s most popular and addictive games; it’s a live-action game show on CBS. And now, enjoy themed mini-games from each episode running in different versions of Candy Crush games – Candy Crush Saga has four mini challenges, Candy Crush Soda Saga has team-vs-team events, and Candy Crush Jelly Saga includes a TV-themed version of the Cupcake Challenge. It’s next-generation technology and whole new level of fun for Candy Crush fans.

Apps to Study and Play Collection is a special selection of 18 helpful, handy apps to accompany students through another year of studying and accomplishment. Popular titles include Nebo, Complete Anatomy, Duolingo, Khan Academy and much more. Check out the whole selection in the Windows Store today!

Technology makes it easy to capture images every day, but keeping them organized, easy to find and easy to share is where Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 ($69.99 through July 30, 2017; regularly $99.99) comes in. Now on sale for 30% off through July 30, Adobe PSE makes photo and video organization, editing, creating, and sharing as simple as it gets.

Major is the first of her kind: a human mind inside an artificial body, cyber-enhanced to be the perfect soldier. When she learns that her creators lied about her origins to control her, Major will stop at nothing to learn the truth and take down the people who stole everything from her. Ghost in the Shell ($19.99 HD, $14.99 SD) is available now in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store, more than two weeks before it hits Blu-ray.